Page 88 of Perfect Pairing
Lena turned to him, the smooth skin of her forehead scrunching in confusion, and I bit back a laugh. Looked like someone was in trouble.
“You spent all day in the kitchen,” Lena said. “What were you doing in there if not cooking?”
“Ahh, well…you see—” Leon started, but Lena held up a hand.
“Save it.” She turned away from him and rolled her eyes. The laugh I’d been holding back broke free, and Leon’s frown deepened. “You were probably watching fishing videos or something equally ridiculous.”
“Fishing videos are not ridiculous!” Leon protested.
Sensing an argument brewing, I slipped away, my eyes scanning the crowd of brunette heads for one in particular. Like thewater parting on the Red Sea, Brie’s family shifted out of the way until I had a clear line of sight to her.
“Fuck,” I breathed.
She was…exquisite. A goddamn dark-haired angel sent from above and gliding toward me on bright red satin pumps. My eyes trailed slowly up her legs, covered in black tights, meeting the indecently high hem of her little red dress. The skirt was full and structured, a white sash tied around her trim waist, the corset top suctioned to her full tits, the tops of which bounced with every one of her steps. The long sleeves were sheer and billowy before they cinched at her wrists. A delicate diamond pendant the size of my thumbnail and shaped like a heart rested against her chest, and matching studs twinkled in her ears through the cloud of her curled hair.
But the rest of it faded away when those blood-red lips parted in a wide smile, her green eyes twinkling under the warm white lights and candles Lena had decorated with.
“Fuck,” I said again when she at last stopped in front of me. “You are…”
“Do you like it?” she asked almost shyly, dropping her eyes to the floor.
I tucked a finger under her chin and raised her gaze back to mine. “‘Like’ isn’t even close to strong enough to describe my feelings about it,” I said, using my free hand to smooth down her side, the material soft beneath my touch. “You’re stunning, Brie. But you already knew that.”
“Still nice to hear,” she said, that gorgeous blush blooming in her cheeks.
“I’ll tell you every day if you want.”
Brie winked. “I’ll take it under advisement.”
I groaned quietly, and her laugh was music to my ears. Truthfully, I liked that she was making me work for it. I’d hurt her, and I understood she had to guard her heart against the possibility of that happening again—especially after what she’d gone through in the aftermath.
The chase would make the reunion that much sweeter, and I couldn’t wait for the day she finally gave in.
“So what sorts of treats did you whip up for us?” I asked, trailing behind her as she skirted the table, eyeing the evening’s offerings.
“Nothing.”
I looped my fingers around her wrist and pulled her to a stop as we reached the end of the table and the tiered trays of sweets.
“You mean to tell me you didn’t prepare any of this?” I asked.
“Nope,” she said happily. “Boys cook, remember?”
“Of course I remember,” I growled, hooking my thumb over my shoulder. “I slaved over that shit for hours.”
Brie giggled. “I’m sure your hard work will be rewarded.”
I raised a brow, not missing the seductive tone to her words. “By you?”
“Maybe if you’re a really good boy.”
Instantly, my cock thickened, and I hissed a curse as I angled myself away from her family and adjusted myself. Brie laughed, the sound more carefree and joyful than anything I’d heard from her in ages. I couldn’t help but grin in response.
“I missed that laugh.”
I missed you, I wanted to add.
She leaned closer, her sugary scent wrapping around me as shedropped her voice and said, “I think it might be back for good.”
